ABOES 50: A Real Kiss

Tan Yao and the others knew very well that they could only hide the truth from Chi Yunxing for a short while—not forever.

They could stop him from checking Weibo’s trending topics for a couple of days, but they couldn’t prevent the incident from continuing to spread and ferment online.

At first, this premeditated assault case was only circulating in a few WeChat groups but as more people started paying attention, and media outlets began reporting on it, this particularly vicious case of bodily harm caught the attention of a growing number of netizens.

As discussions exploded, the Haishi Public Security Bureau had no choice but to release an official statement.

@HaishiPublicSecurityBureau:In the early hours of yesterday, a violent assault took place in Jianghang District. After receiving the report, the police responded swiftly, apprehended the suspect—Mr. Xia—at the scene, and transported the victim to the hospital.

The victim, Mr. Song, is no longer in life-threatening condition after emergency treatment.

The case is currently under further investigation.

As soon as this statement went out, comments quickly exceeded ten thousand.

One particular comment rose to the top as the most liked.

【Suspect Xia and victim Song? Sorry, I don’t know why, but I instantly thought of Scumbag Xia and Homewrecker Song.】

【Scumbag Xia and Homewrecker Song? Who are they?】

【Don’t even, my first thought was them too. How is it just coincidence that one is surnamed Xia and the other Song?】

【Exactly! And it happened in Jianghang District too! Isn’t Nanda University located in Jianghang? All the details line up!】

【Oh my god, the more I read the comments, the creepier it gets. Don’t tell me it’s really those two?!】

【If it is, I almost feel like Song deserved it.】

【Even if he deserved it, being hacked in both legs while conscious is just too brutal…】

【??? Holy crap!? While conscious??】

【You guys don’t know? My aunt lives on that floor. She said it was around 2 a.m., and the whole building heard the screaming. It was so horrifying, people were jolted awake in the middle of the night and immediately called the police. There were so many calls at the same time that officers arrived within ten minutes… Luckily they came fast, otherwise the victim probably would’ve died from blood loss. Just hearing my aunt describe it made my skin crawl…】

【!! God, I’m scared just reading this comment…】

【That person is a total psycho!】

【So it really was Xia Huaiming and Song Jing?!】

【Wait a minute, this commenter is just speculating, right? Why is everyone jumping to conclusions?】

【Yeah, let’s not dox the victim prematurely. If we get it wrong, it’ll only cause more harm.】

【Agreed +1】

…

Since the police didn’t release any more details, online discussion eventually reached a stalemate.

The hashtag #ManSurnameSongHasBothLegsCutOff stayed on Weibo’s trending list for a full day before its popularity finally died down.

…

The next morning, everyone in the Chi family went to the hospital. Even Chi Ling flew back from overseas.

At noon, Grandma Chi was scheduled to be transferred into a sterile ward. From that point on, the family wouldn’t be able to chat with her face-to-face again until after her surgery.

They spent the whole morning in her room, chatting as a family. Later, Duan Zhiyan also arrived at the hospital.

At noon on the dot, the attending physician and nurses arrived as scheduled.

Watching Grandma Chi being wheeled into the sterile room made everyone’s spirits grow heavy.

Chi Yunxing couldn’t hold it in. His eyes turned red, and while no one was looking, he quietly lowered his head to wipe the corners of his eyes.

Duan Zhiyan noticed and gently patted his back. “This is something to be happy about. Once Grandma’s out of surgery, we can take her to see her favorite flower exhibition.”

Chi Xiweng also glanced over and couldn’t help but say, “What do you mean ‘we’? It’s going to be Yunxing and Grandma. If we tag along, she’ll just find us annoying.”

Tan Yao laughed. “That’s true. Mom does get annoyed with you two.”

Chi Ling smiled too. “Alright, let’s go eat. I booked a private dining room at a restaurant. Once the surgery’s successful, Yunxing can take her on a vacation.”

Everyone had a bit of a smile on their face.

After lunch, Chi Ling and Chi Xiweng had to return to work, and Tan Yao also had something urgent at the company. Only Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan remained.

“Yunxing, do you have anything planned this afternoon?” Tan Yao asked. “If not, want to come visit my office?”

Before Chi Yunxing could reply, Duan Zhiyan said, “Yunxing’s coming to my place. I’m free today, so we can start the lessons right away.”

Chi Yunxing blinked. “Today?” After thinking about it, he nodded. “Sure. Do I need to prepare anything?”

“Just bring your script.”

Chi Yunxing had left his script at the hospital, so Duan Zhiyan drove them back to pick it up before heading to his home.

Half an hour later, the car slowly entered a neighborhood full of traditional Chinese villas.

It was Chi Yunxing’s first time at Duan Zhiyan’s home, and he was stunned by the standalone villa in front of him.

Duan Zhiyan noticed his expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Chi Yunxing hesitated but didn’t say what he was thinking.

Duan Zhiyan saw right through him. “You’re wondering why my place isn’t like yours, huh?”

Chi Yunxing quickly explained, “No, I just meant…”

“I get it,” Duan Zhiyan cut in, getting out of the car first. “You’re right, my family’s old house is similar to yours, but I prefer traditional architecture, so I moved out when I became an adult. My parents aren’t around much, so I usually stay here.”

Chi Yunxing got out too and nodded in understanding.

They took the elevator from the underground garage up to the first floor.

“Study or garden?” Duan Zhiyan asked.

Following his gaze, Chi Yunxing saw the serene courtyard beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. A stream cut through the garden, with a small pond at the center surrounded by bamboo.

The breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.

Chi Yunxing answered almost without thinking, “Garden.”

Duan Zhiyan smiled. “Looks like you like it too.”

Chi Yunxing nodded sheepishly.

“Tea or something else?”

“Either’s fine,” Chi Yunxing said.

“Alright. You go wait in the garden.”

Chi Yunxing nodded, pulled open the door, and walked out to sit in the pavilion.

Soon, Duan Zhiyan came out with a tea tray and poured him a cup.

Chi Yunxing took a sip. The light, refreshing flavor spread across his tongue. His eyes lit up. “This tea isn’t bitter.”

“It’s Huangshan Maofeng. Light and sweet. If you like it, come by more often. I’ll make it for you.”

Chi Yunxing nodded. “I probably will be here often these days.”

“True,” Duan Zhiyan picked up the script from the table. “Shall we start?”

Chi Yunxing immediately sat up straight and took out his notebook and pen.

Seeing this, Duan Zhiyan chuckled. “Relax, no need to take notes. Good acting comes down to understanding the character.”

Chi Yunxing eased a bit.

Duan Zhiyan opened the script. “Tell me how you understand Ning Chu.”

Ning Chu was the role Chi Yunxing was going to play. He paused to recall the character bio before starting.

“I think Ning Chu has a really good personality—he’s straightforward and easygoing. He’s cheerful and not the kind of person who plays games in friendships. But…”

After organizing his thoughts, he continued, “But when it comes to love, he’s extra cautious. He first realized he had feelings for Xu Li in high school. Yet even after graduation, Xu Li still saw them as just close friends. Ning Chu was too careful, he never dared to make a move. The only bold thing he ever did was kiss Xu Li once when he was drunk after college graduation.”

“His love is reserved, but also very tender. Once that veil is lifted, he becomes quite aggressive in his affection.”

After he finished, Chi Yunxing glanced nervously at Duan Zhiyan, waiting for feedback.

Duan Zhiyan didn’t comment. Instead, he handed him the script. “Why don’t you act out that bold moment?”

Chi Yunxing was used to impromptu exercises in acting class, so he wasn’t too nervous.

There were no lines in this scene. He skimmed briefly, then sat down in the chair to begin the pantomime.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them with intense focus.

His posture was stiff, gaze fixed ahead. A bead of sweat seemed to trail down his forehead.

After a while, he tilted his head slightly, his black eyes soft as a pool of water.

He pressed his lips together, swallowed nervously, Adam’s apple bobbing.

Then, after a moment, he leaned in and gently kissed the air beside him, as if brushing someone’s cheek.

The performance ended, and Chi Yunxing stood up, looking toward Duan Zhiyan, waiting anxiously.

Duan Zhiyan didn’t move.

Just as Chi Yunxing was about to speak, Duan Zhiyan stood up and walked over.

He sat where Chi Yunxing had been and pulled him down to sit beside him.

Chi Yunxing froze. “I…”

“Yunxing,” Duan Zhiyan set the script aside, “acting isn’t about rigid methods or formulas. What matters most is becoming the character.”

“In other words, when you act, don’t think you’re playing a role. You are that person.”

Chi Yunxing stared at him blankly.

That made sense, but how?

Before he could ask, Duan Zhiyan said, “Right now, I’m Ning Chu, and you’re Xu Li. This is their first kiss scene.”

As soon as he said that, his gaze turned intense.

Chi Yunxing’s heart jumped. He was about to look away but remembered what Duan Zhiyan had said.

He needed to play Xu Li and cooperate.

The first kiss between Ning Chu and Xu Li happened the day after Xu Li got drunk.

That kiss had revealed something. Xu Li was overwhelmed—part surprise, part curiosity, part uncertainty.

“Yes,” Duan Zhiyan lowered his gaze, hiding the affection in his eyes. His voice was husky. “I kissed you. Hit me if you want.”

Chi Yunxing realized this was the scene and quickly found his lines, “No, I mean…” He paused. “Why would I hit you? I just wanted to ask… Did you kiss me because you like me?”

“So what if I did?”

Duan Zhiyan suddenly looked up, his dark eyes intense, gaze hot as midday sun, lingering on Chi Yunxing.

Chi Yunxing broke into a sweat. He nervously looked away. “I… Why so sudden… I…”

“It’s not sudden.” The love he’d kept buried surged forth. “I’ve liked you for a long time. You just never noticed.”

“What?” Chi Yunxing was startled. “Since when?”

At the same time, he was amazed he was keeping up with the scene so naturally.

Duan Zhiyan chuckled, his eyes soft with affection. “You really never realized it.”

“What didn’t I realize?” Chi Yunxing blushed, glancing up. Only to meet Duan Zhiyan’s dark gaze head-on.

Duan Zhiyan suddenly leaned in.

Chi Yunxing thought he should pull away, but it was like he was under a spell. His body wouldn’t move.

A breeze blew through the courtyard, easing the heat off him.

Duan Zhiyan’s face was inches away. Chi Yunxing could smell his subtle cologne. It’s like the gentle floral scent after a storm, both elegant and cool.

Closer.

Chi Yunxing could feel their breaths mingling.

The warmth of the man’s breath hit his face, making it burn.

Do we really have to kiss for this scene?

Just as Chi Yunxing hesitated, a woman’s voice suddenly broke in—

“Well, well. Looks like I came at a bad time—did I interrupt something?”